Bilateral tubo-ovarian abscesses presenting with huge pelvic mass after repeated intrauterine inseminations in a woman with severe endometriosis

Abstract

A 32-year-old woman consulted for an evaluation of pelvic pain following intrauterine insemination (IUI). Vaginal and abdominal sonography, septic workup were performed and laparoscopic surgery was scheduled after failure to respond to a course of antibiotics. During laparoscopic surgery, bilateral tubo-ovarian abscesses arising on the endometriotic cysts of both ovaries were identified with a vast amount of brownish peritoneal fluid under the adhesion of the greater omentum. Bilateral ovarian cystectomy, right salpingectomy and lysis adhesion were performed. Pathologic organisms were not detected in any of the specimen cultures. Pelvic infection is an uncommon complication following IUI. Endometriosis might be a risk factor predisposing the pelvic organ to be susceptible to such infection. Performing IUI in a patient with endometriosis should be done with great vigilance.

Keywords: artificial; endometriosis; homologous; insemination; minimally invasive surgical procedure; tubo-ovarian abscess.